Mute



Oct. 4,1927. 1,644 v A. B. PINARD MUTE Filed Feb. 25. 1924 FIGURE 2 neunz L mvEflToR i AT'FOR EY Patented Oct. 4, 1927. i

ANTOINE 1B. IINARD, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

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Application filed February 25, 1924. Serial No. 694,949.

This invention relates to improvements in mutes for brass instruments, especially cornets, trombones and'the like.

One object of the invention is to provide 5 a device of the character indicated whereby the tone may be muted and still retain substantially the same pitch as the open instrument, and which will produce clearer and more harmonious tones than have hereto for been produced by mutes tommon in the art.

Another object of the invention is to pro duce a mute of light and rigid construction which will not be affected by moisture or temperature changes, and not likely to lose its shape because of such'influences.

The invention also comprehends improvements in the details of construction which are particularly pointed out in the following description and claims.

In the drawing: 7 V Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a mute embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the same.

' Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show at 1 the main body portion of the device. This body portion is frusto conical in shape and is built up of superimposed layers of cloth, paper and wood veneer in the order named and with the cloth lining the interior of the body, the three layers being joined with glue under heavy pressure. The layer of cloth is indicated by the numeral 8, the paper being indicated at 9 and the woodveneer at 10.

The tapering main body 1 is adapted to be inserted in the interior of the horn or hell portion of the instrument in which it is to be used, and is spaced a distance therefrom by resilient blocks 2. These blocks 2 are arranged about the exterior of the body 1 as shown and braced by reinforcing strips of wood arranged at right angles thereto within the body 1 as shown at 3.

The mute is open at the smaller end 4 but is completely closed at its larger end by a diaphragm 5. This. diaphragm is turned from a single piece of vibratory wood such as selected maple and has a thick annular outer edge where it is mounted upon the body 1 provided with an upstanding annular bead as indicated at 6, this thick edge portion tapering rapidly to the thinner cention of the diaphragm is approximately tral portion as shown at 7. The main por-- five-siXty-fourths of an inch in thickness, and gives forth secondary sound waves of the same pitch as the primary waves entering the small end 4; of the mute.

The entire device is thoroughly waterproofed inside and out, and is held in place by the wedging elfect of the blocks 2.

When constructed as hereinbe'fore set forth the mute becomes a resonance chamber in which most of the original sound vibrations are confined, some of the original sound waves, together with the air, escaping through the space between the mute and the instrument formed by the resilient blocks 2. The diaphragm 5 is set in vibration by the trapped waves and in turn gives'oif from its outer surface a secondary set of sound waves which are the ones mostly heard by the auditor.

The diaphragm 5 embodies new and original points of construction as hereinbefore pointed out which enables it to give secondary sound waves having the same acoustical characteristics as the primary, but of diminished intensity.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A mute for musical instruments comprising a hollow truncated conical body portion built. up of superimposed layers of cloth, paper, and wood veneer in the order named and with the cloth on the interior thereof, and having wedgingblocks arranged on its exterior surface near its smaller end and being open at said smaller end, the larger end being completely closed v by a thin wooden diaphragm having increasing thickness from the center toward the circumference and havlng a thickened edge provided with an upstanding annular bead presenting an outer surface substantially ogee shaped in transverse cross-section.

2. A mute for musical instruments comprising a thin-walled hollow truncated conical body portion having wedging blocks arranged on its exterior surface near its smaller end-and being open at said smaller end, the larger end being completely closed,

the closure for the large end consisting of a thin wooden diaphragm having increasing thickness from its center to a point adjacent v the perimeter thereof and then suddenly thickening to form a relatively thick annular bead about its periphery,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ANTOINE B. PINARD. 

